According to the Sheldon Magazine printed in 1855, Samuel was the son of John Sheldon and "Herrod" Watson. Today his mother his more commonly known as "Herodias Watson". This record gave no additional information about him other than that he was born in 1714. No spouse or children were given, no notation of where he might have lived (his brother John was noted in Cranston, RI), and no mention of his occupation or any other note. We can, however, also find him in the Vital Records of Rhode Island as being born in South Kingston, Washington, Rhode Island on Jan 15, 1713-14 to John Sheldon and "Horred Sheldon", again this would be Herodias Watson.

Later genealogies have indicated that he would later marry to Susannah Sherman on Sep 23, 1739 and that he would have several children including Benjamin, Benajah, Samuel, Caleb, Mary, Sarah, and John between 1740-1756 with most born in Greenwich, Washington, New York.